Partitioned carton



Aug. 11, 1959 E. 'M. SCHAEFER PARTITIONED CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1956 INVENTOR t'm/Y M Schaefer E a 5 BY ATTORNEY Au 11, 1959 YE. M. SCHAEFER 2,899,122

PARTITIONED CARTON Filed June 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I f] h 12 L a Q 14 I i L INVENTOR f6 A m/7 M Sc/mvfer BY 70. a v

ATTORNEY United States Patent nanrmonrnemron Emil1M.-.Scliaefer, Minneapolis; ,Applicatibn mummies, sensrmsimsuss Gl'aims. (CltfiZQ -Zll) This invention relates to animprovement iir partitioned carton. and deals particularly with a tray shaped hod'y: having, integral partitihns for separatihg the goods enclosed. v

Vanious. types. of. goods. have long been packaged. in trays having;a partitioned structure thereiir for. separating the goods. containedl. F01: example, in. certain. Bakery: precincts, it is desirable to keep the various units from contact one with the other and it is: common. practice to enclose such goods int a carton. comprising a paper hoard trayhaving an integraI partitioned unit or fill'er therein- Goods packaged; intrays of this type are. often overwrappedi in a wrapping. ofitransparent. material such as cellophane for the. proper display ofthe. goods packaged; Asthe partitionedunits are usuallysepanatel'y formed; ibis-necessaryv or theperson. packaging the" goods tofirst open-up the tray into proper fornr and then insert the partition member. or filler into the tray,. the filler acting to ho1d?the-trayii1 proper conditiom. Thus before thegood'scanhe packed notonl-y does the tray have to be openedfi'omit'sflat form but also. the filler has to he ex pandedl so that the partition. forming; elements are at proper angular relation. Even: in-cases where the partition unitsare placed. into trays. whichQare automatically formed with corner locls; itis necessary for the operator to atleast expand. the partition units: into: formandihsert these units into the. tray Before: the contents may he insertedl.

H Itisaniobicct of thepresentsinventibnto. produce atraylike body havinga. series oh partitions. which areformed integrally with. the bodyofi the tray.- The body oil the tnay isnorma-lly. of the infiolded type so that the walls of the: tray may he quickly folded. into erect condition. The construction is so arranged, that. a portion. of the partition. forming. element-lmay be. simultaneously erected and theentireitray may he formed: from a single blank of paperboard.

A feature of the present inventionresides in thefact that thelfillerslare attached to the trayiinthe set-up condition of: the-structure.- As aaresult, al-l-. of the-, various partitions remain. properly in). place and it-tisa not. possible for the 'variouspartition forming elements or fillers to he accidentally withdrawn-. from: the trays during; the packaging thereof. or after the packages have been opened for use; Accordingly it-ispossible for the-consumer: toremovea part of: the: contents of; the: tray without danger of disturbing the' filler. or accidentally removingit so that the'remaining goods will: comeinto'contacta A A further? feature of. the presentinvention resides in the provision; of. a display member. comprising; at tray shaped hotly havingttliree connected: sides I and a: fourth open: side; The tray is provided with a bOtt'Oma but. is open. at the top. As a result, when the goods are overwraplicdti they are more eifectivelydisplayed than if. the tray/ were possessed of four sides.-; Atthci same: time, the constructiomis: such: that thepartition forming elementawill not move out of place even though the, tray, isrprovided an open side.

These: and other objects and novel features: of the. present inventiomwilll be more clearly and fully set forth in thefollow-ingspecification and claims-.--

In the drawings forming a part ofithe specificationt t Figure 1-. is a planview of. the: blanln from. which the carton is= formed; 1 Figure 2; is across-sectionahview throughithe formed tray; the positiorrof the. section being; indicated by the line: Z-2 of. Figure L of. the: drawings.

Figure 3'- is a sectionaliviewz onithe-line 3-3 ofifiigure L 015 the drawings:

Figure 4 is a front elevationalaview offthe carton? in set up; forms Figure 5 is a diagrammaticview oh the blank; from which the carton=is-fonmed Figure 61 isa plan view-ofthe blank: after it ispartially folded.

Figure-7 illustrates the blanlc in a later. stageofi contpletionz. 1

Figure 8 is a plan viewof the: completely formedfiat Blank "l he cartonlA isifonmed: as is bestiillust-ratedin'Fignre 1; oh the-drawings, and is for-rnecb from the: blank illius tI ated-iniEignre 5).. While-the; details of. construction may be varied.tosome extent,v the cartom Ais shown as having a: bottom panel 10: which: is foldably" connected along opposite ends by parallel. foldlines 1 1'? and 1% toend Walls 13" and: 14- respectively; At fol'cl' line 15 extends across a third cdgfi 6ft thc bottom panel: 14);, foldv line 15 foldably connecting. the bottom to the rear. w-alh'16i Flaps 17 and 19 foldably connect'edto: the reariedges 'ofi theacnd: walls 13 and 14- along; fold: lines 20 and. 21, which fold lines arepreferably aligned with the fold line 15a -In-'order thatthe: tray may he infolded and: adhered in-.flattform*,, a diagonally extending: foldi line22 extends across-the endwall-1 3- f-rom: the jnncture of. the fold lines 1L and 15,, forming: a triangular rear section 23* of: the endiwalhllir whichvmaybe folded into: surfiace=contacti with the adjoining; portion oi the endwall 132. A. similar diagonal: foldline- 242 extends across the end: walli 1 4E emanating from. the juncture of. the fold! lines 12 and 152. The foldline- 24 permits the inholding-z or? outfoltiing of the triangular corner portiorr 25 onto an adjoining portion; oh the end wall. 14* during the gluing operation.

As the carton. of the: present construction is shown divided into: sixcompartments of substantially equal. volume,, apanel 26= is foidably connected to the central portion oh the bottom panel. L0 along-a foldiline- 27.. This panel 264s of a width equal to substantiallyonethird the width of. thebottompanel-.10 and the fold line 21 extends along the middle one-rthird oh the panel edge 29% The panel. 26 is: alsosubstantially (Bl-111311 to approximately onehalf. ofthewidth of'the panel: lfirhetweem the: edge 29 and the fold line 15'. This panel 2 6- is designedito be: folded into: surface contact. with the panel 111 in: a: manner which will be: later described in. detail.

A) central partition forming. panel 30 is 'foldably 'con nected to the panel 26: along: a; fold line 3 11 which is parallel. to the: fold. line 2?. This partition panel 36 preferably extends substantially the fuit lengthof the panel 10 between the: fold lines 11' and 12;. The part5 tion paneh 30iisfo1dably connected along; a fold line 3Z/t'o a similar. central partition, panel. 33s As will belater! described, the panel. 33' is also: substantially the full length of the bottom panel 10 and is equal inheight tot the panel 30.. It. the. various partitions: are to' extend the hull height of: the tray; as. isv usual in constructions of. this type, theheightot the panels. 30uand33 is equah to. the height of the. end. walls. 13 and 1'4.

The panel 33 is foldably connected along. a foldi'1ine 34 to an anchoring panel 35 which is substantially sim the panel 35 is preferably one-third of the length of the bottom panel and is of a width equal to substantially half the distance between the edge 29 of the bottom panel and the parallel fold line thereof. The fold line 34 normally extends along the middle one-third of the bottom panel for a purpose which will be later described more in detail.

A pair of right angularly extending partition panels 36 and 37 are hingedly connected to opposite ends of the panel 26 along parallel fold lines 39 and 40. Integral with the ends of these partition panels 36 and 37 and cut from the body of the partition panel 30 are provided tongues 41 and 42 having arcuate edges 43 and 44. The tongues 41 and 42 are usually of a height equal to approximately one-half of the height of the partition panels 36 and 37 when they are folded upwardly in right angular relation to the panel 26. The purpose of these tongues will also be later described more in detail.

A pair of partition panels 45 and 46 are pivotally or hingedly connected to the anchoring panel 35 along parallel fold lines 47 and 49 which usually intersect the fold line 34 at substantially right angles. The fold lines 47 and 49 are preferably aligned with the previously described fold lines 39 and 40. Furthermore the partition panels 45 and 46 are usually the same height as the partition panels 36 and 37. The ends of the partition panels 36 and 37 adjoining the tongues 41 and 42 are preferably notched out as is indicated at 50 and 51 and the ends of the partition panels 45 and 46 which are most closely adjacent to the partition panel 33 are also notched out as indicated at 52 and 53 respectively. The purpose of these notches is to simplify the erection of the various partition panels and the notches may be eliminated if desired or modified in size.

Notches 54 and 55 are also provided in the partition panel 33, these notches being just outwardly of the ends of the fold line 34. The notches 54 are provided with arcuate ends 56 and 57 which communicate with cut lines 59 and 60 which extend parallel to the fold line 32. The notches are also cut along cut lines 61 and 62 which are aligned with the fold lines 47 and 49. As a result, the notches 54 and 55 are shaped to somewhat coincide with the notches formed in the partition panel 30 by the removal of the tongues 41 and 42. However, the cut lines 59 and 60 form a single thickness of material extending into the notches, as is best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

In the formation of the tray, adhesive is locally applied to the partition panel 30 or the partition panel 33. Accordingly, when the two partitions 30 and 33 are folded into surface contact, these two panels will adhere together to form a central partition unit extending from end to end of the tray midway between the front and the rear edges thereof as is best illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings.

During the folding operation of the two panels 30 and 33, the blank is also folded along the fold line 34 so that the panel 35 and the adjoining partition panels 45 and 46 are in surface contact with the partition panel 33 to which they are hinged along the hinged line 34. The entire structure is ordinarily simultaneously folded along the fold line 27 so that the entire added portion of the blank above the fold line 27 overlies the bottom panel 10. The anchoring panel 35 is provided with adhesive to adhere this anchoring panel to the base panel 10 and if desired, the panel 26 may also be adhered to the surface of the base panel 10, although this is not necessary.

The carton A is now in the position illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. It will be noted that areas of adhesive 65 and 66 are provided on the partition panels 45 and 46 or upon the undersurfaces of the tongues 41 and 42. From Figure 6 of the drawings, it will be shown that the tongues 41 and 42 underlie the partition panels 45 and 46 when the carton is thus folded and are adhered thereto. As a result of this arrangement, the partition panels 36 and 45 are connected in substantially the same plane by the tongue 41 and the partition panels 37 and 46 are similarly connected in substantially the same plane by the tongue 42.

The tray is then completed by an infolding or an outfolding operation. In the drawings, the tray is shown infolded with the end panels 13 and 14 folded to overlie the ends of the partition structure and to overlie the ends of the base panel 10 as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. The end walls 13 and 14 are simultaneously folded along the diagonal fold lines 22 and 24 so that the triangular areas 23 and 25 overlie portions of the end walls 13 and 14. .The flaps 17 and 19 are simultaneously folded in the opposite direction so as to overlie the triangular areas 23 and 24. Adhesive is applied to the flaps 17 and 19, as is best illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings.

The tray is then completed by folding the rear wall 16 so that the ends thereof overlie the end tabs 17 and 19 and are adhered thereto. The carton is then completed in its fiat form.

When the carton is completed it appears as indicated in Figure 8 of the drawings. It is shipped and stored in this flat state. When it is desired to use the carton, the walls of the tray are swung into vertical position by merely grasping the inner or upper edges of the end walls 13 and 14 and pulling these walls upwardly along their respective fold lines 11 and 12. This automatically erects the rear wall 16 into vertical form.

The combined center partition panels 30 and 33 are next swung into erect form between the end walls 13 and 14, the ends of the partition panel holding the end Walls 13 and 14 from collapsing inwardly. The fingers are next inserted between the right angularly extending partition panels and these combined panels also folded upwardly into right angular relation with the base panel 10. As the right angularly extending partition panel connected by the tongues 41 and 42, these partition units may be easily folded upwardly into vertical position.

During the initial folding of the partition panels 36, 46 and 37, 46, the folding action is unrestricted because of the arcuate cut lines 56 and 57 which correspond with the similar cut lines in the partition panel 30. However, when the combined right angularly extending partition panels assume an angle of about 45 from the bottom panel,,the upper edges of the tongues 41 and 42 engage the single thickness portion of the panel 33 which projects downwardly into the notches in the manner best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. These single thickness portions are indicated by the numerals 67 and 69 in this figure. These projecting portions tend to cut into the upper surfaces of the tongues 41 and 42 creating a wedging action which tends to hold the right angularly extending partition panels in an upright position. If desired, the tongues 41 and 42 may be slit or notched as indicated at 70 and 71 in Figure 5 of the drawings, the slits 70 and 71 serving mainly to accommodate the single thickness portions 67 and 69 and limiting the tendency for the tongues to tear. In other words, by initially slitting the tongues, the task of erecting the right angularly extending partion members is simplified without deleterious effects upon the strength of the tongues.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my partitioned carton, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible compartment member foldable into or out of flattened form including a base having a series of panels secured to an edge thereof, said panels including,"insequence, a connecting panel, a first partition panel, a second partition panel, and an anchoring panel, said anchoring panel being secured in surface contact and said connecting panel and said anchoring panel being in substantial surface contact with said base, said connecting panel and anchoring panel being relatively narrow as compared to said partition panels and said base and located intermediate the ends thereof, substantially aligned notches in said partition panels in the edges thereof connected to said connecting panel and anchoring panel respectively, said notches being located outwardly of the sides of said connecting and anchoring panels, partition forming flaps hingedly connected to the side edges of said connecting and anchoring panels, and means extending through said notches connecting the partition forming flaps of said connecting panel with the partition forming panels of said anchoring panel in surface contact.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and including slits in said means extending through said notches into which a portion of one of said partition panels adjoining said notches may extend.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which said means extending through said notches comprises projections on two of said partition forming flaps adhered in surface contact with portions of the remaining two partition forming flaps.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said notches are in the under portion of said partition panels when these partition panels are in upstanding relation, and these notches being of sufiicient size to provide spaces through which said means connecting said partition forming flaps may fold from a position flat against said base to upright position intersecting said partition panels.

5. A fiat glued erectable and collapsible compartment forming member including a bottom panel, a connecting panel foldably connected to one edge of said bottom panel and overlying a portion of said bottom panel, a first partition forming panel foldably secured to said connecting panel, a second partition forming panel foldably secured to said first partition forming member and adhered in surface contact therewith, an anchoring panel foldably connected to said second partition forming panel and overlying a partition of said bottom panel, the lines of fold connecting said panels being parallel, said partition panels being longer than said connecting panel and anchoring panel in a direction parallel the lines of fold and said partition forming panels being folded down parallel to said bottom panel, partition forming flaps foldably connected to the edges of said connecting panel and anchoring panel along parallel lines at right angles to the previously described lines of fold, the lines of fold connecting each partition forming flap to said connecting panel being substantially aligned with the lines of fold connecting said partition forming flaps to said anchoring panel, said partition forming flaps overlying portions of said bottom panel on opposite sides of said connecting panel and anchoring panel, two of said partition forming flaps including projections extending beyond the line of fold connecting the panel to which these flaps said projections being cut from said adjoining partition forming panel and extending in overlapping adhered relation to the partition forming flaps on the opposite side of the lines of fold connecting said partition forming panels to said anchoring panel and said connecting panel, said adjoining partition forming panel being notched at the areas from which said projections have been cut and the other partition forming panel being notched in at least partially corresponding areas, said notches being of proper size to permit said projections connecting said partition forming flaps to fold into vertical position on said bottom panel when said partition forming panels are folded into vertical position.

6. The structure of claim 5 and including side walls hinged to the remaining three sides of said bottom panel,

" said bottom panel being rectangular, corner flaps on certain of said side walls and overlapping portions of the adjoining side walls, and adhered thereto, said side walls overlying said bottom panel and substantially parallel thereto.

7. The structure of claim 5 and including slits in said projections into which a portion of one said partition forming panel may engage when in vertical position.

8. A compartment carton including a tray having a generally rectangular base panel, wall panels extending upwardly along three sides thereof, a connecting panel foldably connected to the fourth side of said base panel and extending in superimposed relation to said base panel, a first partition panel foldably connected to said connecting panel along a fold line parallel to said fourth side, a second partition panel foldably connected to said first partition panel and secured in contiguous relation thereto, an anchoring panel foldably connected to said second partition panel along a fold line parallel to said fourth side, and partition forming wings foldably connected to said connecting panel and said anchoring panel along parallel fold lines spaced from the ends of said partition panels and at substantially right angles to said fourth side, and projections on said partition forming wings on said connecting panel adhered in surface contact to portions of said partition forming wings on said anchoring panel, said partition forming panels having notches at the juncture between said partition forming panels and said connecting panel and said anchoring panel, said projections of said partition forming wings being foldable in said notches from parallel relation to said connecting panel and anchoring panel to right angular relation thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,170,776 Nagle Feb. 8, 1916 1,860,567 Boeye May 31, 1932 2,046,485 Ringler July 7, 1936 2,381,543 Inman Aug. 7, 1945 2,409,793 Punte Oct. 22, 1946 2,561,504 Dwyer July 24, 1951 2,673,023 Vander Lugt Mar. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 458,201 Canada July 19, 1949 

